American Cancer Society will not appeal judge's smoke free petition ruling

American Cancer Society South Dakota Government Relations Director Jennifer Stalley issued the following statement Thursday regarding an appeal of Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Trandahl’s ruling reinstating enough petition signatures to refer the smoke free law to the 2010 ballot:

"The American Cancer Society will not appeal Judge Trandahl’s ruling regarding the statewide smoke free law.

"It is appropriate that today, on the 34th annual American Cancer Society Great American Smoke Out—a day dedicated to helping smokers quit—the American Cancer Society, along with more than fifty diverse public health, business and medical groups, will begin in earnest our statewide effort to support the smoke free law on the November 2010 ballot and ensure that no one has to choose between their health and their job in our great state.

"We are confident that the vast majority of South Dakotans support this law and that by this time next year –the 35th annual Great American Smoke Out—South Dakota will be a smoke free state."

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Governor Rounds signed the smoke free bill into law today,March 19, putting South Dakota on the path to reduced cancer rates, heart attacks and decreased health care costs. The law will go into effect July 1, 2009 and includes all bars, restaurants, video lottery establishments and Deadwood casinos.

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 Major findings:

• 80% of South Dakota voters view second hand smoke as health hazard.
• Two-thirds of SD voters support expanding second hand smoke protections to include bars, restaurants, and gaming.
• Support is strong regardless of geographic location. Whether voters live East River/West River, in a city or a small town, in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Winner, or Clark, a broad majority support expanding second hand smoke protections.
• Voter support crosses political and ideological boundaries. Whether Republican, Democrat or Independent, conservative, moderate or liberal, political party or persuasion, voters support expanding smoke free worksites.

• Employee and customer rights more important. Voters believe that employee and customer rights to breathe clean air are more important than the rights of smokers to smoke and owners to allow smoking inside their businesses.

A statewide poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies in August 2008 surveyed 500 randomly selected likely voters across South Dakota regarding their views on secondhand smoke and workplace protections.